Longitudinally adjustable running gear for vehicles



2,676,815 LONGITUDINALLY ADJUSTABLE RUNNING GEAR FOR VEHICLES Filed Dec. 7, 1951 W. BENNETT April 27, 1954 s She ts-Sheet 1 1 N V EN TOR ATTOPNEXS.

April 27, 1954 w. BENNETT 67 LONGITUDINALLY ADJUSTABLE RUNNING GEAR FOR VEHICLES Filed Dec. 7, 1951 z Sheets-Sheet 2 am-V n M4 TEe BEN/V577;

INVENTOR.

Jrrakusys.

W. BENNETT April 27; 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 7, 1951 g a WW 4 v QW N I T E A lllllll l Q5 '5 xhm Patented Apr. 27, 1954 ICE 'zt'l'asrs LoNGiTUhINALLYAnJUsTABfiE' RI'ENNING GEAR FOR VEHICLES Walter Bennett; Lo's Angeles Galifi, assign'or to Utility Trailer "Manufacturing Cmpany,"L6s

AngeleS, -Cali f., "acorporation of California "'"Applicaticn"December 7, 1951', Serialll'o; 2609155 8 Claims.

This 'invention has to do with the shifting of vehicular running-gear longitudinally with respect to the load carrying 'body" or frame. preferred form of the invention is' here shown and described as a'pplied td a semi-trailer, but their rventiomaswill be readily recognized, may be applied to any type-'of loadcarrying vehicle; It is often desirable, in freight'vehicles to be able to change-the relative longitudinal position of the running gear under the loadcarryi'ng' frame, to effect some particular,- forv instance some moreequab1e; distribution of the load between: the" front and rear road wheels; Specifically as an" example-, in a semi-trailer. it may bedesirable toeflec'tequable' load distribution-between the wheels'of thetrailefs-rear' running-gear and the rear running. gearof the tractor; or on the otherhandQto-distribute a greater portion of' the loadonto the reangear of'the tractor to -increasetraction. Or it may be desirable to adjust theloaddistribution; as between the rear running 'gea'r and theforward temporary support of a" semi trailerwhen the trai-leris detached from its tractor.

The invention provides for longitudinal-adjustment and setting of arunning gear in two or more relative positions, and,- in a very simple structure for rigidly and' solidl-y incorporating the-gear with the vehicle frame ineachof-the several positions;

The'" invention, its objects and accomplishments, will be'understood from thespecificillustrative form described inthe following and shown in the accompanying drawings, where:

Fig; l is a sidee1eyati0n showing a typical semi-trailer equippedwith adjustable rear running' gear according to the-invention;. 7 "Fig. zis'an' emargmem of the reaf'portionof the trailer shown" in Fig. '1;

Fig! 3is a plan, 'c'ci pressed in width'of the frame'parts shown in'f' Fig. 2; I

' Fig'st- 4 and 5 j are further jenlargedsectionson lines and 5-" I 5"ofyFig;'2; I Fig; 6-is ari ehlarged -detail section on line' 6 6 of Fig.- 2, showing' the -p'arts int'h'e 'rela-tive" posi tionscassumed 'when the running gear and itssub-frame are in the rear-most positions-and Fig. '7 is an enlarged elevation showihg'r 'the rear parts 'of-Fig. 6s

- Fig. 1 shows a" typical 'semi t-railer -'with=' its main frame lil supp'oit'ed at rear onrear running gear *I I and at its front'e'nd on a tractorlz-"in typical mannen 'Such semi-trailers usually are provided with" gear for supportingtheir front support being indicated generally at' 3, comprising a-wheel' orpair of wheels Mwhich may belowered;-as indicated; to support the front end. G11 a semi-t i'aile'r, -one of the effects of shifting the longitudinal position of the rear running gear may be to adjust the load distribution 'between' that gear and the front support when the trailer is detached' from the tractor.

-Main-trai1er frame 10* is typically composed of two side lon'gi-tudin'albeams'zll and-cros'smemhers-2 I; Such frame cross members 2| are usual- 1y providedin the rear portion as--wel1 as in the forward portion ofthe frame; but in the present design-the 'functionof such cross members 'in-the rear portion of the frame is taken over "by cross members in thelongitudinally movable sub-frame' as' will be explained. So, inFig I there'are rio mainframe crossmembers 2'E" to the rear of theone shownat 2 l a; except that theremaybe a rearend cross member of the main frame,-'- as'shownat 2 i b in Figs. 2- and 3; As best shown in Figs; 2;4 and 5 thewhe'els of rear-'running gear H are mounted 'on the longitudinals 3 of asli'dab'le sub-frame, through springs 32- and-the spring shack1es 33; The sub-frame comprises two side longitudinals 3| and a seriesot cross lriembers 34 (shownhere as three) Welded-to the longitudinals and braced by-welded corner gus'sets35; -Asshown-in Figs; 2 -a'nd-3; the springshackles 33 are aligned with the sever'a'l'cross-members" 34; and as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the shackles,-dire'ctly mounted on the under side of sub-frame flange "3111, are braced by gussets 33a-to the crossmembers. The

details of structure at the two opposite sides of 1 the main frame" and sub-frame are" identical so a detailed" explanation of the structures at one 'side' will" suffice.

-As shown best in Figs; 4 and 5; the longitudinals 2lllof the main frame are formed of beam sections with avertilzalweb 20a; an outwardly turned lower' flange 20b and,-preferably,' also an upper-inwardlyw turned flange 20c;*thus either having; a flangeonly at the bottom-013 preferably,;also one atthe'top'. The longitudinal members 3| of threz'sliding sub-frame are'prefer-ably of inverted I -section, with the T flange am at the loweredge of a vertic'al web 31b. The two parallel longitudinals 3'! are rigidly connected by the gussett'ed cifosshl i'elnbers 3ta hd are by'theni' sd 's'paced apartthatthewebs 3lb 'fit c1ose1y, bilt sli' bly; 'faceto face, with'theinner faces of webs frbhi th msimn ame to i the sub-frame; longi-' 20c of-mainframe longitudinals '20; as shown" tudinal angles 40 are welded to sub-frame longitudinals 3|, with one flange 40a, projecting out horizontally under the lower flange 20b of main frame member 20 to slide thereunder. The height of the main frame with respect to the running gear (which directly carries the subframe) can easily be adjustably set by changing the relative elevation at which longitudinal angles so are welded to sub-frame longitudinals 3i. In Figs. 4 and 5 they are shown in relative position to support the main frame at the lowest relative level.

in the typical structure shown in the drawings the sub-frame and running gear can be set in three different positions. In Fig. 2 the first or forward position is shown in full lines; the second or intermediate position is indicated by the center line for second position and by the broken line showing of the rear one of the pair of wheels; and the third or rear position is similarly indicated. The sub-frame may be moved into its forward position from any position to the rear of that, by blocking or braking the rear running gear Wheels and then moving the main frame back by tractor action, until the forward ends of subframe longitudinal angles 40 come up against stop lugs 59 (see Figs. 2 and 4) welded or otherwise secured to the under faces of flanges 20b of main frame members 20. From that position, the sub-frame and running gear may be moved to either the intermediate or rear position by tractor action pulling the main frame forward with the wheels blocked or braked. In the rear position, the rear ends (see Figs. 6 and 7) of the subframe longitudinals 31 (their webs 3112) move back against stop lugs 51 welded or otherwise secured to the inner faces of webs 20a. of main frame members 20. The upper part of the rear end of web 3 lb is cut back to present an end edge at 3 I; and that edge is effectively thickened for withstanding impact by a block or bar 52 welded to the inner face of web 3 lb.

In the second or intermediate position the same rear end edge of the longitudinal 31 moves back against a stop'plate 60 which in its stop position hangs vertically, from hinge pin Bl, inside the web 2011 of main frame longitudinal 20. See Figs. 2 and To allow the sub-frame to pass the intermediate position to reach the rear position, stop plate 60 is hung up in the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 5 by any suitable means, for instance the spring catch 62.

In each of its several positions the sub-frame is directly and solidly clamped to the main frame longitudinals, so that the sub-frame becomes for all functional purposes an integral part of the main frame, the sub-frame cross members then performing the same main frame stifiening function for the rear portion of that frame that the fixed cross members 2| do for the forward portion. The preferred means for effecting that solid clamping is a set of clamping bolts arranged preferably as shown in the drawings.

As shown best in Fig. 6, the webs 31b of subframe longitudinals 3| are provided with three bolting holes 10 spaced apart longitudinally, and each immediately adjacent one of the three frame cross members 34. Those three bolting holes in 3lb are thus, together with the associated cross members, located directly above the three spring shackle blocks 33. The webs 20a of main frame longitudinals :20 have a series of bolting holesfll, located in the several positions designated HA in Fig. 2, and three of which reg- 4 ister with the three bolting holes in the sub-'- frame longitudinal in the several positions of the sub-frame. The details of structure at the several registrable bolting holes are best shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6.

At each main frame bolting hole I I, there is a washer-like member 12 with a concave, conical, outer face 12a, welded to the outer face of web 2011. At each sub-frame bolting hole 10, there is a heavy reinforcing block 13 welded in the corner which is formed at the inner face of web 3!?) by the web 3 m and upper flange 34b of the associated cross member 34. Bolting holes T0 are extended, at 10a, through the blocks 33.

With the sub-frame in any of its several adjusted positions, clamping bolts 15 are set in each of the sets of three registering bolting holes. As shown in Fig. 4, each bolt has a heavy conical washer I6 under its outer head H, preferably welded to it and thus forming in effect a part of a conical head that fits in the conical outer face 120. of Washer 12. The inner end of bolt i5 is provided with nut 18; but instead of leaving that nut free it is preferably welded to block 13 and the bolt is set up by turning it in the stationary nut. Bolt head 1'! may be provided with any suitable means to prevent the bolt from backing out from its set-up position. Such means are well known and so are not shown, but may for instance involve cotter pin holes Na. in the bolt head. When the bolts are set up tightly the two webs 20a. and 3lb are drawn into tight facial contact with each other and the two webs locked together against any relative longitudinal, or vertical, movement. With the two webs locked together, and particularly with the longitudinal flange 40a bearing up under the main frame longitudinal, the sub-frame longitudinalseffectively reinforce the main frame in the region where it may most need reinforcement-directly over the running gear support. And also when the two webs are locked together the sub-frame cross members then perform the function of stiffening and bracing the main frame. With relation to those reinforcing and stiffening functions it will be noted by reference to Figs. 4 and 5 that the vertical webs 31b of the sub-frame longitudinals are vertically co-extensive with a major portion of the vertical extent of the main longitudinal webs 20a; and that, likewise, the vertical extents of the cross members 34 are co-extensive with a major portion of the vertical extent of the subframe longitudinal webs 311). When the two webs are locked together, the effect then is as if the cross members, lying substantially in the horizontal planes of the main longitudinals, were directly rigidly connected to those longitudinals.

The interengaging conical members l2, it have the effect of allowing for slight discrepancies in exact registration of bolting holes 10 and TI. Those holes, and also Ella and the hole through washer 12 can be drilled somewhat over-size, and the seating of 16 in T2 with the bolts tightly set then holds the two webs rigidly together with no liability of relative movement along their plane of contact.

I claim:

1. In combination, a vehicle main frame embodying side longitudinal beams having vertical webs and outwardly turned flanges along their lower edges, a rigid load-supporting sub-frame embodying side longitudinal beams and cross members extending directly transversely between and rigidly connected to the longitudinal beams, the longitudinal beams of the sub-frame embodying vertical webs lying inside the main longitudinal webs and in close slidable facial contact with the inner faces of the main longitudinal webs, the vertical webs of the sub-frame longitudinal beams being vertically co-extensive with a major portion of the vertical extent of the webs of the main longitudinal beams, and the cross members having vertical extents coextensive with a major portion of the vertical extent of the webs of the sub-frame longitudinal beams, said sub-frame longitudinal beams having near their lower edges upwardly facing and outwardly extending longitudinal flanges bearing upwardly against the under faces of the flanges of the main longitudinal beams, and means for positively clamping the facially engaging webs together in tight facial engagement selectively in a plurality of longitudinally spaced relative positions, whereby, when said webs are so clamped, the transverse cross members of the sub-frame form fully effective transverse cross members for the main frame rigidly associated with its longitudinal beams.

2. The combination defined in claim 1, and in which the sub-frame webs are provided with a set of longitudinally spaced bolt holes and the main frame webs are provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced sets of bolt holes registrable with the first mentioned sets in different relative longitudinal positions of the sub-frame, and including clamping bolts extending through the registering bolt holes.

3. The combinations defined in claim 2, and also including bored reinforcing blocks secured integrally to the inner faces of the sub-frame webs in register with their bolt holes, outer reinforcing washers integrally secured to the outer faces of the main frame webs in alignment with their bolt holes and having outer concave surfaces, and the bolts having heads with inwardly facing convex surfaces seating in said concave washer surfaces.

4. The combination defined in claim 1, and wherein the support of the sub-frame longitudinal beams on the running gear embodies spring shackle blocks secured directly to the lower edges of said sub-frame beams in longitudinally spaced relation, and wherein the sub-frame cross members are located directly above said shackle blocks.

5. The combination defined in claim 4, and wherein the sub-frame webs are provided with a set of longitudinally spaced bolt holes each directly over a spring shackle block and each in close proximity to a cross member, and the main frame webs are provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced sets of bolt holes registrable with the first mentioned sets in different relative longitudinal positions of the sub-frame, and including bored reinforcing blocks integrated with the inner faces of the sub-frame webs in alignment with the bolt holes and also integrated with the adjacent cross-members, and clamping bolts extending through the bored reinforcing blocks and the registering bolt holes.

6. The combination defined in claim 1, and in which the sub-frame longitudinal beams are of inverted T-section, the support of said beams on the running gear including spring shackle blocks directly secured to the under face of the T-section flanges, and in which the upwardly facing flange of the sub-frame beam is formed by an outwardly extending flange of an angle-section integrated with the web of the sub-frame beam above its lower T-fiange.

'7. The combination defined in claim 1, and including two stops rigidly attached to the main frame longitudinal beams and adapted to be engaged by the ends of the sub-frame longitudinal beams in their extreme longitudinally spaced relative positions, and an intermediate position stop mounted on the main frame and adapted to be moved into and out of a position engageable by an end of a sub-frame longitudinal beam.

8. The combination defined in claim 1, and wherein the sub-frame webs are provided with a set of longitudinally spaced bolt holes each in close proximity to a cross member, and the main frame webs are provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced sets of bolt holes registrable with the first mentioned sets in different relative longitudinal positions of the sub-frame, and including bored reinforcing blocks integrated with the inner faces of the sub-frame webs in alignment with the bolt'holes and also integrated with the adjacent cross-members, and clamping bolts extending through the bored reinforcing blocks and the registering bolt holes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,621,555 Miller Mar. 22, 1927 2,589,678 De Lay Mar. 18, 1952 

